1 hr ago
Court Grants Sachin Waze Bail in Antilia Bomb Scare Case
A court gave former police officer Sachin Waze bail in two connected cases.
The cases involved a vehicle with explosives found near Mukesh Ambani’s home and the death of businessman Mansukh Hiran.
The vehicle was found on February 25, 2021.
Hiran was found dead in a creek in Thane on March 5, 2021.
The National Investigation Agency said the case involved terrorism and a larger conspiracy.
The judge said there was not enough evidence at this stage to show that the Ambani family had been terrorised.
The court also said the explosives lacked detonators, so they could not cause an explosion.
The judge treated Hiran’s death as a separate murder offence rather than the direct result of a terrorist act.
Waze must meet bail conditions, including a personal bond of Rs 1 lakh and a surety.
A special NIA court granted former police officer Sachin Waze bail in the Antilia bomb scare and Mansukh Hiran murder cases.
Judge Chakor S. Baviskar said prosecutors did not establish a prima facie terrorism case under the UAPA.
The court said there was no evidence that the Ambani family had been terrorised or that its business was disrupted.
It noted that the gelatin sticks found in the SUV had no detonators and could not be used for an explosion.
Waze’s release was ordered on a personal bond of Rs 1 lakh with a surety, while the prosecution had accused him of involvement in a terrorist gang and conspiracy.
- Who
- Former police officer Sachin Waze was granted bail by a special NIA court; the prosecution had accused him and others of terrorism-related conspiracy.
- What
- The court granted bail in the 2021 Antilia bomb scare and Mansukh Hiran murder cases.
- Where
- The SUV was found near Antilia in south Mumbai, and Hiran was found dead in a creek in neighbouring Thane.
- When
- The SUV was found on February 25, 2021, and Hiran was found dead on March 5, 2021; the bail order was issued on Tuesday.
- Why
- The court said the prosecution had not established a prima facie terrorism case under the UAPA and had not shown that the Ambani family was terrorised.
Court’s Bail Findings
Prosecution’s Allegations
Terrorism Case
Court’s Bail Findings
The court said there was no evidence that the Ambani family had been terrorised and found that the prosecution had not established a prima facie UAPA offence.
Prosecution’s Allegations
The prosecution alleged that Waze and others formed a terrorist gang and entered into a criminal conspiracy between February and March 2021.
Explosives and Threat
Court’s Bail Findings
The court said the gelatin sticks had no detonators and therefore lacked the means required to constitute a terrorist act.
Prosecution’s Allegations
The prosecution linked the explosives-laden SUV near Antilia to an alleged plan to strike terror in the minds of the Ambani family.
Hiran Murder
Court’s Bail Findings
The court said Hiran’s death was a homicidal death and an independent murder offence, not the direct outcome of a terrorist act.
Prosecution’s Allegations
The prosecution pursued the murder case alongside the Antilia bomb scare and alleged a wider conspiracy involving Waze and others.
Key facts
- Accused
- Sachin Waze, a former and dismissed police officer
- Vehicle incident
- An explosives-laden SUV was found near Mukesh Ambani’s residence, Antilia, on February 25, 2021
- Death
- Businessman Mansukh Hiran was found dead in a Thane creek on March 5, 2021
- Court
- Special NIA court presided over by Special Sessions Judge Chakor S. Baviskar
- Court finding
- The prosecution failed to establish a prima facie terrorism case under the UAPA
- Explosives
- The court said the gelatin sticks lacked detonators
- Bail condition
- Personal bond of Rs 1 lakh with a surety
Quotes
Special Sessions Judge Chakor S. Baviskar
Judge of the special NIA court that granted Sachin Waze bail
“There is absolutely nothing on record even to infer by any stretch of imagination that the Ambanis or anyone of them is/was, are/were ever terrorised in any manner.”
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